It’s all but impossible to consider all that is happening in Pittsburgh now and conclude Tomlin, now in his 12th year with the club, has a firm grasp on what’s happening with his players.

“It’s a circus there,” one NFC South assistant coach told B/R, “and Mike has no control over it.

“He’s one of the best coaches of my generation, but the players have too much control there.”

Has Tomlin lost every Steelers player? No, of course not. I’ve spoken to plenty of Steelers who believe he is the best coach they’ve played for—and ever will. And as an assistant coach from Tomlin’s division said, “It’s not Mike’s fault that Antonio Brown sometimes acts like an idiot.”

But would Brown sometimes act like an idiot under another coach?

Most coaches around the sport have great respect for Tomlin, but some of those same coaches will tell you privately that Tomlin doesn’t keep enough